Japanese Foreign Minister to visit Uzbekistan

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya will pay an official visit to Uzbekistan on August 26–27. Ahead of his trip, the minister published an article titled “Japan Remains a Reliable Partner and Friend of Uzbekistan.”

In his article, Iwaya said that visiting Uzbekistan had been a long-held dream of his and expressed happiness that it was now becoming a reality.

“Despite being separated by thousands of kilometers of land and sea, the peoples of Uzbekistan and Japan have preserved and strengthened their cultural and historical closeness over the years.

After the end of World War II, many Japanese citizens were interned by the former Soviet Union. Nevertheless, warm relations developed between Japanese workers in Uzbekistan and the local population. The majestic State Academic Bolshoi Theater named after Alisher Navoi, built with Japanese assistance, has become a symbol of friendship between our countries. I have heard that during the 1966 Tashkent earthquake, this building was not damaged and continues to serve as a venue for opera and ballet performances,” he said.

The minister noted that diplomatic relations between Japan and Uzbekistan were established in 1992, shortly after Uzbekistan’s independence. He emphasized that Japan has been a steadfast partner and supporter of Uzbekistan’s development for more than three decades.

Japan is currently developing initiatives to promote self-reliance in Uzbekistan by addressing environmental and socio-economic challenges arising from the Aral Sea’s desiccation. These initiatives include supporting sustainable agriculture in harsh climatic conditions and introducing advanced technologies.

According to the Uzbek Foreign Ministry, Iwaya will meet his Uzbek counterpart, Bakhtiyor Saidov, on August 27. The ministers are expected to hold the first strategic dialogue between their countries’ foreign policy chiefs, exchanging views on strengthening cooperation in politics, economics, culture, and responses to global challenges.

For context, Iwaya visited Kazakhstan on August 25, where he held talks with the country’s leadership.